2.1       Explain the working culture of the film industry

I have found working in the film industry can be challenging and unpredictable at times. The hours involved are long and draining on a set. Workers can become frustrated due to the pressure that comes with the hectic schedule and communication. Also travelling can be quite far as it’s not a fixed schedule; you could be called to another city a day before.

The positives are that if you’re passionate and can handle the irregular schedule and long hours it can be worth it at the end. The negatives are the nature this industry is, it might not be suited to everyone. The main quality you need for this industry is to never give up and try your best otherwise it is not the industry for you as that is what it demands. You need to be reliable as other people rely on you and the production may not move forward without your part.

Another important quality you need is to have mastered your craft. This is because if you don’t know how to specialize in your craft then you won’t add any value towards the production.  During my time learning from masterclasses, I learned that the industry is very unpredictable and has a lot of risks. In a producing masterclass, there was a story of when a producer had to sell their house to make ends meet on a production. During workshops and making a short film, I learned that it is very stressful and requires much attention and passion if you want to succeed.

2.2       Describe a range of key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

Research 5 different roles in the production department and summarise them.

1. Executive Producer supervises the producer on behalf of the studio, financiers or distributors. Can raise finance for a film and secures rights.
2. Producer main role is to take ideas from stories and turn them into films or profitable films. Moreover the producer pulls together a good cast and crew that can work with each other to make it happen. Also the overseeing and responsibility for all aspects of production.
3. Production Coordinator runs the operation of the production office and organises logistics.
4. Location Manager finds the best location for the film. Negotiates fees and permission. Manages location during the shoot.
5. Line Producer estimates the production cost for investors and supervises the budget.

They all work together by helping each other alleviate the responsibilities of the producer in bigger productions not in small budget/short films. The executive producer is the one that funds or gives contribution such as their property location or funds to the producer. The line producer maintains the budget and helps the producer stay on budget. The location manager would need the line producer to take budget costs from.

2.3       Outline the potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

I have learned throughout my time on this course the wide range of opportunities and routes into the film industry. Below are a few I have:

Apprenticeships – I have learned that I can get an apprenticeship to start my career in film if that is what I think is best. This is because those that would like on the job training with some study at the same time would suite them.

Entry-level jobs – An entry-level job is a job that is normally designed or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline and typically does not require prior experience in the field or profession. This would be great for a beginner in the film industry with no experience as they will learn on the way.

Studying at university is another route I can go as I will get a degree afterwards. However at the same time I would have to network in my spare time to build connections.

Online opportunities such as sharing work on online platforms could get me some work if people like it.

Film festivals is a fantastic way of networking. I could work at a film festival to meet people in the industry to share and talk about each others’ experiences and next steps.

BFI Film Academy progression routes include residentials, short courses, film school and mentoring. These are all viable options for young filmmakers wanting to get in the industry.

Personal Progression Plan

In creative media I would like to work in fictional filmmaking or documentary filmmaking. The specialism I would like to work in is producing or sound design. I would like to further study film from lectures and experiences from people while being on productions and learning from making mistakes. The courses that interest me are the residential programmes from the Film Academy as they are inline with my progression plans. The residential courses also give me the opportunity to make a film and learn from professionals at the same time and network. The local media companies I would like to work with are Kinematic and SHIFT Media because they have professional equipment and experienced staff who I can learn from. There are many options for making my own content to name few are short films or a documentary. I would like to make a short film. I would make it by sourcing people I want to work with or would be interested. I would crowdfund from supporting bodies like BFI or make a no-budget short film. For distribution I can enter it into a film festival or distribute it online via social media platforms or video sharing websites. I could join the various filmmaking networks around the country like Film Hub North or South Yorkshire film makers network. From these networks I could gain opportunities from people wanting to start their own production. In the future I would be interested in working at a film festival or a film production as a runner to gain more experience. My next step is to partake in a residential at the NFTS.

Learning from Masterclasses

Industry Speaker: Yen Yau – Grierson Trust’s Outreach Manager & freelance project manager.

Yen’s job mainly involves finding young new talent and giving them opportunities in the industry.Yen has won multiple awards and has accolades in various festivals around the country like ‘Into film’. Yen has done work in the Bond Film by getting young filmmakers working on it which is part of her job. Yen has also done lectures at the National Film and Television School. I have learned the various of ways getting into the industry from Yen as part of her Screen Industries presentation. Yen covered areas from games, VFX and sport. I learned the correct attitude hardworking people in the industry must have to succeed. I learned various other things like what it is like working on fast paced productions e.g. working long hours. Yen gave us a useful breakdown of what to expect on our journeys in the industry such as handling rejections, going to networking events and developing soft skills.  I have found out residentials at the BFI are a good place to start for me from Yen.